In the more than a decade subsequent to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government has spent large amounts of money to put mechanisms in place to secure the country’s borders with its neighbors, while simultaneously attempting to maintain the flow of US – Mexico border shipping

Securing the US – Mexico, and the country’s northern international border, is, of course, a legitimate function of the Federal Government. A negative byproduct, however, of implementing measures intended to protect the country’s border has been systemic US – Mexico border shipping delays. A slowdown of cross border commercial flows is inherently detrimental to the economic interests of both countries. Striking a balance between security and efficient trade flow has, thus far, proven to be a challenging, and sometimes elusive, proposition. This issue has, and continues to, draw the attention of both border and national media outlets.

Recently National Public Radio (NPR) visited the border region between El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to get a first-hand look at US – Mexico border shipping, and to speak with those who are on the front lines of the issue.

NPR reporter, Mónica Ortiz, spoke with big rig trucker on the border whose day to day efforts are directly affected. The trucker, Alejandro Rivera, a driver for Tecma Transportation Services explained, in very concrete terms, the what US – Mexico shipping delays mean for him, his company and, by extension the broader economy.

In response to the issue, there has been a private company response to solving the problems that arise from balancing the economic need to expedite trade with that of securing the nation. El Paso’s Secure Origins is one company that provides products and services that have been designed to meet this challenge.